what matters // levi x reader

Chapter 8

[(y/n)'s POV]

[Morning]

I woke up yawning, but I flinched when I realized that Levi was still asleep. His face was nuzzling on my neck and his arm was wrapped around my waist.

"Levi.." I whispered.

"What." he grunted.

"I need to get up. You should as well."

He then glanced at me and rolled over, facing the ceiling whereas I got up and sat on the side of the bed.

"What's wrong?" he asked, his voice calm and soothing.

"Nothing. How did you sleep?"

"Don't lie."

"I just... I feel like something bad is going to happen."

Silence.

He got up and started changing, and after some minutes, I did the same.

"I slept fine. Thank you." he said, throwing me a side glance. A small smile formed on my lips as I nodded.

I got out first and headed outside.

"Captain! Goodmorning!"

"Hey guys! How are you feeling?"

"We're fine, you don't have to worry about us."

But I can't help it.

After a while, all the soldiers came out as well as Levi's squad.

"Goodmorning Captain (y/n). Looking beautiful as usual." Oluo stated before biting his tongue again, making us all laugh.

[Time Skip]

An hour passed by and everyone got on their horses. Erwin was leading in front as usual, with my squad following behind him on the left and Levi's on the right. The other soldiers were positioned in the back.

"The gates are opening in 10 seconds."

This is it. There's no going back.

There were people looking at us. Some admiring and some already knowing that the expedition wouldn't bring any further hope.

"5 seconds!"

I glanced at Eren who was in the middle of the formation. He looked very anxious so I decided to talk to him.

"Eren."

"Y-Yes Captain?"

"Everything is going to be fine, we're here with you."

"Advance! We will now begin the 57th expedition beyond the walls!" Erwin shouted.

My heart was beating faster than ever as we slowly made our way outside the walls.

"Oi." Levi grabbed my horse's reins to stop me from going further.

"Yes?"

"Remember our promise."

Levi and I would always make a promise before battle.

Don't die.

"Promise me."

"I promise."

[Time Skip]

"A black smoke round? And it's directly from behind us!" a scout shouted.

"Draw your blades!" commanded Levi.

We all turned around to see and it was a..

Female Titan?

"What the hell!" I exclaimed.

She was running towards us with immense speed. Everyone had terrified looks on their faces.

"It's fast! In those trees, there's no way to foresee and evade its attacks!"

"Captain! Let's switch to Maneuver Gear!" Petra stressed.

Levi didn't reply.

"Captain (y/n)! What are we going to do?"

"Do not switch into Maneuver Gear yet! Everyone, proceed forward!" I ordered.

"Let's go for it! It's dangerous, we should kill it!" Oluo said but both Levi and I completely ignored him.

Petra approached me with her horse and drew my attention.

"Petra, what's wrong?"

"I... I want to be brave like you!" she said with tears in her eyes, making mine widen in surprise.

It was time for my squad and I to change positions, so we headed left, leaving Levi's squad with the Female Titan.

"Shit! Why now?!" I grunted in anger.

"Captain! Go! They need you!"

"I'm not leaving you guys!"

"We're going to be fine!"

"I said I'm not leaving!"

[Levi's POV]

"Cover your ears!" I ordered.

Sound Blast. It will win us some time. It is our duty to keep this brat from getting a single scratch on him, even if it costs our lives.

Everyone was looking at me with determined, yet, frightened expressions.

"We'll continue to flee on horse. Got that?"

"Yes sir!"

Reinforcements came. Another squad died, and the Titan kept chasing us.

"Target is accelerating!"

When finally-

"Fire!" Erwin commanded.

Hundreds of wires attacked the Titan.

"Everybody listen! After securing the horses up ahead, switch to 3DMG. I'll act separately for a while. Eld will take charge of the squad. Hide Eren a good distance away from that Titan. I'll leave it up to you now." I ordered before swinging over to where Erwin was.

[(y/n)'s POV]

I had to act separately, so I went to where Erwin and the other soldiers were. As soon as I swung closer, I saw that Levi was with them too.

"Looks like it's immobilized." Levi said while crossing his arms.

"We can't let our guard down yet."

The Titan was protecting its nape from all the wires and the soldiers.

"I will attack it."

"No need to act recklessly (y/n)." Levi sighed.

"We should cut its arms off and then slice its nape before it's too late!"

"Squads 2 and 3! Fire!" Erwin shouted.

"Erwin what the hell are you doing? Some wires aren't going to stop the Titan from attacking us again! We need to kill it now!"

"Shut up and listen to Erwin's commands." Levi grunted once again.

How about I kill those two huh?

"If this thing escapes..." I warned while glaring at Levi, him looking back at me in his usual expressionless face.

"How's that feel? You can't scratch even if you get an itch! Moving a muscle is out of the question! But really, why haven't they gotten the key target out yet? What are Levi and Mike doing?" Hange asked.

Levi and Mike decided to attack the Titan but, to our surprise, it acted faster. It froze its hands so that we wouldn't be able to attack its nape, leading to both of their blades breaking.

"Prepare the explosives! Blow off the target's hands. On my signal, commence together."

Levi was standing on top of the Titan's head, and right before he attacked it, it started screaming. Everyone covered their ears while gritting their teeth at the deafening sound.

"It sounds like its trying to send some kind of message!" I exclaimed.

And I was right.